Plummer finds accuracy in second half as Broncos edge Raiders

Plummer completed 11 consecutive passes at one point in the
second half and threw a pair of touchdowns to lead the Broncos
to a 17-13 triumph over the Raiders in a classic "trap game."

It was the seventh victory in the last eight games for Denver
(7-2), which easily could have overlooked lowly Oakland (2-7)
with a matchup against AFC West Division contender San Diego
(7-2) next week.

"It's nice to find a way to win when you don't play one of your
better football games," said Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, who
was fired by Raiders owner Al Davis 17 years ago. "It says
something about the character of your team. You've got to find
a way to win."

Denver had scored 31 points in each of its last two contests but
for the most part was lackluster on Sunday, accumulating just
264 yards of total offense and managing 63 yards on the ground.

Plummer maintained, however, that he and his teammates were not
worried about next week's meeting with the Chargers.

"I didn't look ahead at all," he said. "All I heard was they
moved the game to Sunday night and that was all I knew.
Otherwise, I knew this was not going to be an easy game. They
didn't make it easy on us when we played them at home and we
knew in their place it was going to be even tougher."

Plummer, who has been heavily criticized for his play this
season, got off to a horrendous start Sunday, throwing two of
his three interceptions in the first half.

"You hate starting slow, especially here because they get a lot
of energy if you start slow and give them anything to get
excited about," Plummer said. "We did that, but we hung
together as a team. We didn't give up, we stayed together as an
offense, defense, special teams."

But the veteran quarterback stepped up when it mattered most,
orchestrating a nine-play, 60-yard drive capped by his one-yard
touchdown pass to fullback Kyle Johnson on 4th-and-goal to give
Denver a 14-13 lead.

"We thought they might be playing to run, and they did,"
Shanahan said. "I was pleased with the way he threw it. You
have two teams with a lot of pride fighting against each other."

Plummer completed all seven of his passes on the pivotal drive
and finished the contest 20-of-31 for 210 yards.

"It wasn't a pretty game," Plummer said. "I could play a lot
better and I think a lot of guys on offense could say that. But
the defense played good enough for us to get it done."

"The good thing about getting a win when you don't play your
best is you get a chance to go back home and look at the
mistakes you made and try to correct them," said Broncos wide
receiver Javon Walker, who had a 39-yard TD catch in the first
quarter. "But the most important thing is that we got the win."

Tight end Stephen Alexander hauled in six receptions for 49
yards for the Broncos, who have won four straight against the
Raiders and improved to 19-5 against their division rival under
Shanahan.

"We feel we are on the right track for what we are trying to
do," Oakland coach Art Shell said. "We feel we're doing things
to give the players chances to make some plays."

Andrew Walter went 18-of-33 for 214 yards for Oakland, which has
scored a total of just 105 points through nine games this
season.

The Raiders got the ball back on their own 32 with 1:50
remaining but had their hopes dashed on the first play from
scrimmage, when Walter was hit and fumbled. Rookie defensive
end Elvis Dumervil recovered the loose ball, clinching the
victory for the Broncos.

"I don't know what the problem is," Shell said. "The coverages
didn't change. We had some opportunities and we didn't make the
connection."